Guidelines and Criteria Used for Undergraduate Student Initiatives Fund

The Student Services Committee (SSC) recognizes the need to support McMaster full-time undergraduate students and recognized MSU student clubs/organizations in pursuing extra-curricular endeavours.  The SSC has allocated a limited amount of funds to assist individual students and MSU recognized groups/organizations to achieve their goals.

The granting of funds to individuals or groups will also be subject to the following criteria and guidelines:

• Applicants must be MSU members/recognized MSU club and/or be sponsored by a Faculty or University department.
• Applications will be evaluated on the basis of their individual merit. Amounts allocated will be competitive depending on the number and quality of applications.
• Activities to be funded must have significant educational/cultural value and be of interest and benefit to McMaster students/faculty/staff.
• Funding requests from students for activities operated by groups external to McMaster will be given consideration only if the activities are judged to be closely related to the educational development of students and have an appreciable McMaster focus.
• The number of McMaster students benefitting from program/event.
• The place and importance in enhancing student life of the activity to be funded.
• The number of times funds have been granted in the past three years.
• The amount requested.
• The extent to which the individuals/groups involved have themselves raised or will raise funds for the activity (monetary and/or non-monetary contributions).
• Funds are primarily for new projects.
• Funds for travel and conference purposes will be restricted.
• The clarity and completeness of the submission with respect to plans/details of the activity to be funded and a breakdown of the budget, including a list of sources of funds received and expected.
• The safety and liability risks for students and others participating in the activity must be ensured, and all events must be reviewed and approved by Risk Management and appropriate risk management protocols followed.
• Demonstrated ways the event is environmentally friendly/sustainable.
• Consideration for the ongoing financial sustainability of the event/program.
• Demonstrated commitment to the success of the program/event.

 

Ineligible submissions:

• No funds will go directly to a charity.
• No funds will go towards the purchase of equipment, staff costs, grad dinners, formals, club nights, catering for club meetings.
• No funds will go directly to an individual student to attend a conference/event.
• No funds will go towards activities that in any way constitute part of the requirements of an academic course or degree program.
• Food and beverage costs are typically not funded.
• Applicants who do not meet the conditions of funding as directed will not be considered for funding in the future.

 

Submission Deadlines:
September 28, 2012 – (Term I, programs/events held September 1 and November 30)
November 30, 2012 – (Term II, programs/events held December 1 and March 31)
February 15, 2013 – (Term III, programs/events held April 1 to August 30)

Applications are available online at http://studentaffairs/doc/2012/ugrad_student_initiatives_fund_app_form.doc and should be submitted in a Word doc to eva.bodrozic@mcmaster.ca

It should be noted that program funds are limited and may be exhausted at any time before the end of the academic year